Electronic cigarettes have been gaining popularity in the U.S. as a smokeless delivery system for nicotine. These devices require liquid nicotine (e-liquid) that are vaporized and inhaled (vaping).
E-liquid can have nicotine concentration as high as 100 mg/mL, which are diluted prior to use. When ingested in high concentration and in sufficient volume (1 vial = 15 mL) patients can develop significant nicotinic toxicity. Recently a case of cardiac arrest has been reported after ingesting two 15 ml vial (100 mg/mL).
Nicotine mimics the effects of acetylcholine (Ach) release by binding to nicotinic receptors located in:
Clinical manifestation of toxicity (similar to cholinergic toxidrome) is biphasic with early central stimulation followed by depression. (see table below)
|
| GI | Respiratory | Cardiovascular | Neurologic |
| Early (1 hr) | Nausea Vomiting Salivation Abdominal pain | Bronchorrhea Hyperpnea | Hypertension Tachycardia Pallor | Agitation Anxiety Dizziness Blurred vision Headache Hyperactivity Tremors Fasciculation Seizures |
| Late (0.5-4 hr) | Diarrhea | Hypoventilation Apnea | Bradycardia Hypotension Dysrhythmias Shock | Lethargy Weakness Paralysis |
Management: There is no specific antidote or reversal agent. The management of nicotine toxicity focuses on organ-specific dysfunction.
There are two main models of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems
Franco-German
Anglo-American
Hook of Hamate Fracture
Rare (2% of all carpal fractures)
Mechanism usually direct blow from a stick sport (golf, hockey, baseball)
Presents with hypothenar pain and pain with gripping activities
Physical examination - local swelling and tenderness to palpation over hook of hamate
Diagnostic test - Hook of hamate pull test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-mjRnC1yWQ
XR - standard wrist series but add carpal tunnel view
http://openi.nlm.nih.gov/imgs/512/60/2904904/2904904_256_2009_842_Fig1_HTML.png
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Not to be outdone by the recent FDA approval of Idarucizumab to reverse dabigatran, a new factor Xa reversal agent is under investigation. "Andexanet binds and sequesters factor Xa inhibitors within the vascular space, thereby restoring the activity of endogenous factor Xa and reducing levels of anticoagulant activity, as assessed by measurement of thrombin generation and anti factor Xa activity, the latter of which is a direct measure of the anticoagulant activity."
Design
Two parallel randomized, placebo-controlled trials (ANNEXA-A [apixaban] and ANNEXA-R [rivaroxaban]) were conducted in healthy vounteers to evaluate the ability of andexanet to reverse anticoagulation, as measured by the percent change in anti factor Xa activity after administration.
What they Found
Compared to placebo, andexanet significantly reduced anti-factor Xa activity, increased thrombin generation, and decreased unbound drug concentration in both the apixaban and rivaroxaban groups.
Application to Clinical Practice
Last month we discussed causes of serotonin syndrome including common ED medications such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), tramadol (Ultram), metoclopramide (Reglan), and ondansetron (Zofran).
Let’s conclude this series and discuss how to treat serotonin syndrome:
This concludes our 3-part series on serotonin syndrome!
Risk factors for invasive candidal infections
If there weren't enough reasons to avoid opioids, here is another: opioids don't work for low back pain (LBP).
Objective
A well-done, double-blind, randomized controlled trial from JAMA set out to compare functional outcomes and pain at 1 week and 3 months after an ED visit for acute LBP among patients randomized to a 10-day course of (1) naproxen + placebo; (2) naproxen + cyclobenzaprine; or (3) naproxen + oxycodone/acetaminophen.
Intervention
Outcome
Neither oxycodone/acetaminophen nor cyclobenzaprine improved pain or functional outcomes at 1 week compared to placebo, and more adverse effects were noted.
Application to Clinical Practice
Among patients with acute, nontraumatic, nonradicular LBP presenting to the ED, avoid adding opioids or cyclobenzaprine to the standard NSAID therapy.
Designer drugs are structural or functional analogs of controlled substances produced to mimic pharmacological effects of the original compound while circumventing legal restrictions and detection on drug screens. Considered "legal highs" by the public, these highly potent drugs are produced in clandestine laboratories with no regulations for quality control or clinical testing for phamacological effects and thus present major threat to public health. Examples include synthetic hallucinogens (DOM: STP), opiates ( methylfentanyl:china white), stimulants (methamphetamine:crank, MDMA: ecstasy, cathinones:bath salts) and synthetic cannabinoids (spice).
The synthetic cannabinoids are the newest designer drugs and numerous cases of intoxication are being reported including some fatalties.Cannabinoids fall into 3 classes: endocannabinoids, phytocannabinoids, synthetic. Marijuana, the best known cannabinoid is plant derived and its psychoactive effects are mainly due to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which binds with the endocannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 found throughout the central and peripheral nervous system and peripheral organs. The CB receptors interact with opiate receptors which is likely responsible for the analgesic effect.
Since 1984, the John Huffman research group at Clemenson University synthesized over 450 cannabinoid compounds for biomedical reseach known as "JWH compounds". These compounds hold great promise in the investigation of multiple diseases and development of new novel therapies. Over the last several years, these cannabinoid compounds began cropping up sprayed onto herbs marketed in colorful packets and sold on the internet, convienence stores, and head shops. Although clearly labeled as "not for human consumption" considered on the street as a legal alternative to marijuana.
Key Points:
- Anterior shoulder dislocations often require surgical management in young adults due to recurrence, but are less common in pediatric patients, particularly under age 10
- A study this year showed that 14-16 year olds are similar to 17-20 year olds in recurrence risk (around 38%- when non-operative management), and this is especially true of males.
- The recurrence rate is lower in the 10-13 age group, but there are also less dislocations in this group as well, making this group harder to assess
- Remember to consider both chronologic and bone age if you are deciding to refer a patient for outpatient surgery follow up, bone age is more accurate to determine healing and response to non-operative treatment
- Consider early referral for surgical management and counseling regarding recurrence risk in the 14-16 year age group after anterior shoulder dislocations
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a hemoglobinopathy that is considered a relatively rare disease in the United States, affecting about 90,000-100,000 individuals.
Globally, SCD affects millions, primarily in West and Central Africa.
Acute presentations of SCD include:
The bottom line:
Pain Management in the Critically Ill Patient
Patient complains of facial and neck swelling, what's the diagnosis?
Happy Halloween!!
I hope you have had a safe and fun Halloween. Thank you to all the people that are staffing the EDs on a Saturday Night Halloween.
Prostate-Selective Alpha Antagonists have been tied to Falls and increased risk of fractues in elderly men. These medications can lead to syncope and hypotension putting patients at increased risk of falls. A recent canadian study showed that at 90 days of use; individuals on alpha antagonists were at increased risk of hospital visits for falls (1.45% vs. 1.28%) or fractures (0.48% vs. 0.41%). There was also an increased risk of head trauma.
Please warn patients that are on these medications of the risks, so that injuries can be minimized. They should take specific care when changing postural positions, and report episodes of lightheadedness to their PCPs.
The article can be found at http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h5398
A traditional ED practice has been to combine promethazine as an anxiolytic adjunct to morphine for patients with musculoskeletal pain (eg back pain).
However, when compared to morphine alone, this combination does not lead to greater analgesia or decrease anxiety. It does however prolong ED length of stay.
This use of this "pain cocktail" is not recommended
Fever is the most common presenting symptoms to pediatric emergency departments 10-20%
There have been a variety of case reports that have been describing the effects of lipid emulsion therapy on severe hemodynamic overdoses. As time has gone on, we have realized that this therapy is not for all severe overdoses. The type of medication and its pharmacokinetic properties factor into the decision. There is minimal evidence and no ideal randomized control trials that will tell us what the right answer is but take beta-blockers for instance:
Atenolol - in overdose, consider hemodialysis, very effectively removed by HD [1]
Propranolol - very lipophilic and one of the few beta-blockers that can cause widened QRS, seizures as well as the prototypical hypotension and bradycardia.
Because of its lipophilicity, ability to cross the blood brain barrier and ability to cause lethal dysrrthmias, lipid emulsion therapy has been effective in reversing the clinically severe effects of a propranolol overdose. [2]
The World Health Organization (WHO) has just released a report on the current status of road traffic safety globally.
From a postive perspective, road traffic deaths are stabilzing even though the number of motor vehicles are rapidly increasing.
The bottom line- injuries are preventable. Continued policy efforts, laws with enforncement, can save lives. Specific life saving legislation includes:
There is more than the standard preparations of plasma, platelets, and PRBCs in the blood bank. Certain patients will require these specialized preparations when a transfusion is required. Here are three to know:
